Diplomacy & Events Abroad Foreign Policy Before WWII

Diplomacy & WWII By 1933- few believed the fragile peace established under the Treaty of Versailles would last Japan threatening China Rise of the Nazis in Germany Worries of the depression in the U.S. How did we go from disengagement to neutrality and from neutrality to total involvement?

U.S. Foreign Policy- Asia September 1931- Japanese took over Manchuria and established a puppet government League of Nations did nothing except pass a resolution condemning Japan for its actions The Manchuria crisis showed the League’s inability to maintain peace Would never again be taken seriously by potential aggressors The Stimson Doctrine was a stronger response, but did nothing to stop Japan’s aggression U.S. refused to recognize the legitimacy of any Japanese regime established by force

U.S. Foreign Policy- Latin America President Hoover actively pursued friendly relations with Latin America during his term Reversed interventionist policies of earlier presidents President Roosevelt continued Hoover’s efforts through a “good-neighbor” policy Reverse dollar diplomacy interventions (U.S. couldn’t afford these investments during the Depression) Rise of militarist regimes in Europe and Asia prompted FDR to seek Latin America’s cooperation in defending the region

U.S. Foreign Policy- Latin America Roosevelt implemented his good-neighbor policies on several occasions Nullified the Platt Amendment in Cuba At two different Pan-American Conferences: Pledged to not intervene in the internal affairs of a Latin American country Warned if a regime attempted to “commit acts of aggression towards us” it would find “a hemisphere wholly prepared to consult together for our mutual safety and our mutual good”

Events Abroad: Fascism and Aggressive Militarism Nationalist resentment after WWI combined with economic hardships gave rise to military dictatorships in Italy in the 1920s, Japan and Germany in the 1930s 1940- Japan, Italy, and Germany form an alliance The Axis Powers

Italy 1922- Benito Mussolini’s Fascist Party seized power in Italy Attracted dissatisfied war veterans, nationalists, and those who feared communism The “Black Shirts” marched on Rome and installed Mussolini in power as “Il Duce” (the Leader) Fascism became the dominant ideology in European dictatorships in the 1930s The idea that people should glorify their race through aggressive show of force

Nazi Germany The Nazi Party arose out of the 1920s in reaction to the terrible economic conditions in Germany after WWI Largely a result of the reparation payments demanded by the Treaty of Versailles Adolf Hitler was a young WWI veteran who quickly worked his way up through the then German Workers Party Captivating speaker, drew upon the anger of unemployed workers and disgruntled veterans

The Beer Hall Putsch November 8-9, 1923: Hitler and his followers staged a failed coup of the government in Bavaria, a state in southern Germany Hitler was convicted of treason and sentence to 5 years, but only served less than 1 In prison, Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, his political autobiography in which he explained his political ideologies and future plans for Germany

Hitler’s Rise to Power After being released from prison, Hitler realized the Nazis had to gain power through legal means His Beer Hall Putsch and trial had made him an instant celebrity Hitler capitalized on his popularity to attack the weakness of the Weimar Republic and remind German’s of the unfairness of the Treaty of Versailles The Emergency Decree after the Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act essentially give Hitler and the Nazis full control over the German government After the death of President Hindenburg, Hitler declares himself President, Chancellor, and head of the NSDAP

Japan Japan’s nationalists and militarists arose to power in response to worsening economic conditions there Convinced the emperor the best way to ensure access to basic raw materials was to invade China and Southeast Asia Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

American Isolations Nye Committee determined that U.S. entry into WWI was a mistake Concluded the main reason for U.S. participation was to serve the greed of the bankers and arms manufacturers The Nye Committee’s work influenced isolationist legislation for years to come Congress adopted a series of neutrality acts that applied to nations who were at war: Prohibit arms shipments, travel, extension of loans and credits to nations at war The America First Committee employed celebrities and popular speaks to travel the country to warn against reengaging in another European conflict

? What did the Manchuria crisis prove about the League of Nations? What two factors led to the rise of dictatorships in Europe and Asia in the 1930s? What three countries would ultimately make up the Axis Powers? What was Mein Kampf? Give two examples of attempts by Americans to stay isolated from the growing discord in Europe.